Diversity of the dsrAB (dissimilatory sulfite reductase) gene sequences retrieved from two contrasting mudflats of the Seine estuary, France

• Published in: FEMS microbiology ecology Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 230 - 238
• Main Authors: Leloup, Julie, Quillet, Laurent, Berthe, Thierry, Petit, Fabienne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2006; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Cloning; Cloning, Molecular; competitive PCR; Desulfotomaculum - classification; Desulfotomaculum - genetics; Desulfotomaculum - isolation & purification; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; dsrAB genes; Ecology; Estuaries; estuarine sediments; France; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genetic Variation; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Hydrogensulfite Reductase - genetics; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Molecular Sequence Data; Mud flats; phylogenetic analysis; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Reductases; Salinity; Salinity effects; Sediments; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soil Microbiology; sulfate availability and salinity; Sulfate reduction; Sulfates; sulfate‐reducing microorganisms; Sulfite; Sulfite reductase; Water Microbiology; France; Europe; estuarine sediments; phylogenetic analysis; genes; competitive PCR; sulfate availability and salinity; sulfate-reducing microorganisms; Nucleotide sequence; Enzyme; dsrAB genes; Desulfotomaculum; Bacillaceae; Subunit; Hydrogensulfite reductase; Amplification; Marine environment; Polymerase chain reaction; Bacillales; Gene; Bacteria; Oxidoreductases; Microorganism; Sulfite reductase; Sequencing; Reductase
• ISSN: 0168-6496; 1574-6941
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2005.00021.x

Abstract The diversity of sulfate-reducing microorganisms was investigated in two contrasting mudflats of the Seine estuary, by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of the genes coding for parts of the alpha and beta subunits of dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrAB). One site is located in the mixing-zone and shows marine characteristics, with high salinity and sulfate concentration, whereas the other site shows freshwater characteristics, with low salinity and sulfate concentration. Diversity and abundance of dsrAB genes differed between the two sites. In the mixing-zone sediments, most of the dsrAB sequences were affiliated to those of marine Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the order of Desulfobacterales, whereas in the freshwater sediments, a majority of dsrAB sequences was related to those of the Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the genus Desulfotomaculum. It is speculated that this is related to the salinity and the sulfate concentration in the two mudflats.